The tears wouldn't stop coming and Carina hated herself for it because Magnus was standing right there watching her fall apart. This was not how things were supposed to go.
She pressed her palm harder against her burning cheek, tying to breathe, but her chest felt too tight and the corridor walls seemed to be closing in.
"Should I call for a healer?" Magnus asked again and his voice was so gentle that it made her cry harder.
She shook her head quickly because the last thing she needed was more people seeing her like this.
Word would spread through the castle by morning that Gamma Carina had been struck by her own father. The shame of it burned worse than the mark on her face.
"No healer." She managed to whisper but her voice broke on the words and fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.
